Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has stunned Washington with shocking claims about Jeffrey Epstein, calling him “the greatest blackmailer ever.” In a new podcast interview, Lutnick alleged, without proof, that Epstein may have traded compromising videos of associates for the lenient 2008 plea deal that let him escape federal prosecution. His remarks sharply diverge from the Trump administration’s attempts to downplay the Epstein controversy, triggering fresh demands for accountability in Congress.
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Lutnick’s Explosive Allegations
In an interview with The New York Post’s Miranda Devine, Lutnick said Epstein likely held damaging videos of his associates. “What happened in that massage room, I assume, was on video,” he claimed. “This guy was the greatest blackmailer ever. He blackmailed the people. That’s how he had money.” He further suggested, “I assume way back when they traded those videos in exchange for him getting that 18-month sentence.” Lutnick stressed he had “no knowledge” of such an exchange, calling it only his assumption.
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Commerce Secretary’s Personal Encounter
Lutnick recalled living next door to Epstein on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in 2005. He said Epstein once showed him and his wife a “massage room” in his townhouse and made a suggestive comment. That moment, Lutnick explained, convinced them never to be alone with him again. “I would never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again,” he told Devine.
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How Epstein Escaped Prosecution
Despite dozens of accusations of abusing young girls, Epstein in 2008 struck a plea deal with then–U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta. The deal allowed him to serve only 13 months in county jail while continuing to work from his office during the day. The leniency sparked outrage at the time and has since fueled conspiracy theories. “I mean, he’s a serial sex offender. How could he get 18 months and be able to go to his office during the day?” Lutnick asked.
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Alex Acosta’s Controversial Role
Acosta, who later became Trump’s Labor Secretary, defended his handling of the case but resigned in 2019 under mounting scrutiny. Lutnick suggested Acosta’s deal made little sense unless Epstein offered leverage. “There must have been a trade,” Lutnick said in the podcast. “Because there were people on those videos.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has not commented on Lutnick’s claims.
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Epstein Case Reignites Debate
The Justice Department and FBI this summer released a memo concluding that Epstein’s 2019 death was a suicide and dismissing theories of a hidden “client list.” Still, the Epstein case remains politically explosive, partly because of his ties to powerful men, including Donald Trump. Recently, The Wall Street Journal alleged Trump once sent Epstein a “bawdy” birthday letter in 2003, a claim Trump has denied. He has since sued those connected to the publication.
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Trump Administration Under Pressure
Lutnick’s comments clash with Trump officials’ efforts to dismiss Epstein speculation. Many within the administration had previously fueled conspiracy theories but later walked them back. Now, Lutnick’s explosive remarks risk reopening divisions and further inflaming Trump’s political critics. His suggestion that federal prosecutors traded Epstein’s charges for tapes is already drawing congressional attention.
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Calls for Oversight Testimony
Rep. Robert Garcia, ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, called Lutnick’s remarks “explosive” and demanded his testimony. “We need to speak to him, the entire Oversight committee,” Garcia said on CNN. “Anyone, particularly if you’re in the Trump Administration and you are saying those comments so freely, you have to have additional information.” Lawmakers from both parties continue to press for full transparency on Epstein’s connections and plea deal.